Browse ESS3.A Resources

Living in a Freshwater World

Primary Topic:

Water Cycle

Subtopics:

Precipitation, Water & Life, Weather, Climate, Tropical Cyclones, Floods, World Health

Type:

Interactive

Audience:

Outreach, Informal, General

Standards:

ESS2.A, ESS3.A, ETS2.A

Summary:

This interactive lesson will allow you to explore Earth’s freshwater resources. You will learn how NASA's Global Precipitation Measurement mission is helping us better understand our most valuable natural resource.

Monsoons: Wet, Dry, Repeat

Temperature data showing difference between winter and summer.

Primary Topic:

Weather and Climate

Subtopics:

Earth Systems, Water & Life, Weather, Societal Applications, Freshwater Resources

Type:

Video

Audience:

Outreach, Informal, 9 - 12, 6 - 8

Standards:

ESS2.A, ESS2.C, ESS2.D, ESS3.A

Keywords:

monsoons, India, temperature, windspeed, soil moisture, SMAP

Summary:

The monsoon is a seasonal rain and wind pattern that occurs over South Asia (among other places). Through NASA satellites and models we can see the monsoon patterns like never before.

Understanding Earth: Whats Up With Precipitation?

Primary Topic:

Water Cycle

Subtopics:

Hydrologic Cycle, Precipitation, Earth Systems, Water & Life, Weather, Climate, Freshwater Resources

Type:

Article

Audience:

Outreach, 9 - 12, 6 - 8, General

Standards:

ESS2.A, ESS2.C, ESS3.A

Summary:

An educational brochure which explores the importance of fresh water to life on Earth and how NASA is monitoring and studying precipitation using satellites like GPM.

Assessing Drought in the United States

Primary Topic:

Societal Applications

Subtopics:

Water & Life, Weather and Climate, Weather, Climate, Data, Freshwater Resources

Type:

Video

Audience:

Outreach, Informal, Formal, 9 - 12, 6 - 8

Standards:

ESS3.A, ESS3.B

Keywords:

drought, citizen science, drought severity, precipitation variability

Summary:

This short animation from the Community Collaborative Rain Hail and Snow Network shows how decision makers use a variety of data and in-person reports to assess the drought conditions across the United States.

Beautiful Earth: Snow

Primary Topic:

Weather and Climate

Subtopics:

Hydrologic Cycle, Precipitation, Water & Life, Climate, Satellites, Launch Vehicle, Data, Freshwater Resources, Forecasting

Type:

Video

Audience:

Informal, 6 - 8

Standards:

ESS2.D, ESS3.A, ESS3.D, ETS2.A, ETS2.B

Keywords:

GPM, snow

Summary:

GPM Application Science Lead, Dr. Dalia Kirschbaum, explains how GPM observes snow, and the importance of understanding snow characteristics and distribution in a changing climate.

California Drought Visualization

Primary Topic:

Societal Applications

Subtopics:

Water Cycle, Hydrologic Cycle, Earth Systems, Data, Freshwater Resources

Type:

Website

Audience:

Formal, 9 - 12, 6 - 8, General

Keywords:

dought, snowpack, water resources, streamflow, reservoir storage

Standards:

ESS3.A, ESS3.D

Summary:

A visualization of data about California's drought, one of the most severe droughts on record.

Show Me The Water

Primary Topic:

Societal Applications

Subtopics:

Water Cycle, Water & Life, Freshwater Resources, World Health

Type:

Video

Audience:

Outreach, Informal, 9 - 12, 6 - 8, K - 5, General

Standards:

ESS3.A, ESS3.C

Keywords:

freshwater, water resources, agriculture

Summary:

This short video, derived from the Science on a Sphere film "Water Falls", explores how Earth's freshwater resources are allocated and used.

Earth's Water Delivery: No Passport Required

Primary Topic:

Societal Applications

Subtopics:

Water Cycle, Hydrologic Cycle, Earth Systems, Climate, Human Impact, Freshwater Resources

Type:

Article

Audience:

Outreach, Formal, 9 - 12, 6 - 8, General

Standards:

ESS3.A

Keywords:

aquifer, water resources, water distribution, climate change, water use

Summary:

Water on Earth travels freely, without regard to borders, but it's not evenly distributed around the world, and that distribution is changing as climate changes.